Leaking Coolant from my MU - Help!

[slickric]

G'day all,

I have a 1992 2.8 MU that's leaking coolant. The leak seems to be coming from an area underneath the turbo, and the pool of coolant left on the ground leaks directly underneath the oil sump tank. I suspect that I've buggered up the gasket head or something.

I've had the MU for 3 years, keep it regularly serviced and have never had a major problem with it until now. Has anyone had a similar problem, and can someone recommend a good mechy in Sydney that can fix it? I live out in West Sydney so somewhere close would be ideal.

Thanks,
Eric

[justin]

There is a coolant hose directly below the turbo and of course the turbo has a coolant inlet & outlet. Jack it up and whip off the driver side wheel. Use a torch and have a look for leaks, it may not be as bad as you suggest. J

[geeves]

Theres 4 or 5 hoses on that side of the engine including 2 behind the oil filter. My 89 bighorn blew the turbo water line about 3 years ago so yours is same age This pipe is smaller than normal water hose use 12mm fuel hose. The others are special shapes so you have a butcher job or a lot of looking in parts bins or genuine parts.
good luck

[Graham]

If you still need a mechanic in Western Sydney, I can recommend Nasr at Westmead Autos (or something like that) on Great Western Hwy, Westmead - Nasr & Tony are nice guys and have worked on MUs in the past. They're pretty quick with things and have done a good job with my MU for the past 3.5 years.

Cheers, Graham.

[geeves]

Once the first hose goes you can expect all the others to give up over the next 12 months or so Most factory books suggest you should replace all water hoses every 3 years but we all know how many people actualy do that (clue its a round number)

[maletimaru]

Buy the Turbo hose for performance cars - in NZ is about $10 - $20 a metre and replace all your current hoses - Mine cost me $40 to replace all my Turbo hoses and added a Boost gauge at same time

[caffa]

maletimaru said:

... replace all your current hoses - Mine cost me $40 to replace all my Turbo hoses ....

thats the best advice around. damn cheap insurance when you think about it. a litt bit o/t to your question i know but if one needs replacing, give it a birthday and replace as much as you can. sounds like its been a while since it saw new ones. good luck and i too think (and hope) it may not be as bad as your thoughts would have it.

[caffa]

ffs, ya shittin me. the word "d a m n" has been filtered. maybe i should have said bloody cheap insurance and it would have been better ... ROFL

[pk]

Hi, anyone got a photo of these hoses with the engine out on the floor?? My 91 MU 2.8TD has developed a water leak from somewhere near the oil filter. Trouble is finding a way in. Do you have to take the turbo off to get to them??
Regards
PK

[James W]

Do these help? Sorry about the quality, pre dates digital camera.

[pk]

Thanks - but damn, they are going to be hard to change in the vehicle.
I guess its a small price to pay for having a unique looking ride.
Regards
PK

[justin]

If it's the one just above the filter on the side wall of the motor, I replaced mine and it was possible from the front wheel arch. Jack it up remove the drivers side front wheel and drain the system and you can replce it with standard water hose, doesn't need to be a molded one. J

[geeves]

The molded hoses are not bad in price but some of the straight ones are killers. The only hose I have left to replace is the short one above the flywheel. Not looking forward to that one. Will probably end up running long hoses up and over the top of the engine with plumbers hose fittings

[pk]

Well, got all my hoses replaced except the twisted "u" shaped one from the heater to the tubing on the motor. Took samples into Repco, and they let me go through their bins to find close matches. Ended up cutting up one new hose to make 2 replacements. Can post Gates part numbers if anyone interested.
Does anyone have a part number for the twisted "u" shaped hose.
Regards PK.

[geeves]

Take the hose into your friendly Holden dealer tell then its off a 93 Rodeo and they will give you the right one

[robbarns]

Are the hoses similar to the ones on the 3.1L MU?

I ended up with that same pool of coolant on my 94 MU and thinking ill just change all the hoses

[geeves]

no garentees but I think so

[robbarns]

forgive my ognorance but im new to this 4wd diesel game is the thing directly behind the suspension on the driver side the water pump? (on the right hand side in the pic).....im having problems identifying where the leak is coming from its tighter than a ducks butt back there.......seems to be water dripping from a bolt at the bottom of that thing, obviously its probably leaking somewhere above it and just dripping from the lowest point, but im wondering if it is the water pump if its likely it causing the problem or if theres a pipe above and behind it thats causing the problem?

[geeves]

Unless Ive missed something the object at the right of the pic is the alternator. The water pump is driven by the same belt but uses the same pulley as the fan.
Above the alternator there are 3 suspects. The 2 lines to the turbo which are 12mm hose and the bypass. The turbo hoses are easy so its more likely to be the bypass which is well hidden. I think its 18mm pipe and about 4 inches long. To get at it you need to remove the bracket holding the air con. Dont loosen any aircon pipes Place the air con on the battery tray then with triple jointed fingers you should be able to replace this hose.

[James W]

More pic's of water hoses above the alternator. The alternator is missing in this pic but is normally aorund the 9 o'clock position of this pic. The botton bracket for the alternator can be seen at very bottom of pic ( 7 o'clock). This shows water hoses, one s bend one of the thermostat housing/water pump (3 o'clock), another smaller diameter one to the turbo.